Good morning, Springfield.

Dakin Humane Society received strong local support after rescuing 96 cats from a single home earlier this month+ over 51 were adopted while many still receive care.

Residents also donated food, litter and supplies to help the animals.

A Springfield baby boy who fought for his life in the NICU is now a finalist for a national 'Baby of the Year' contest and must maintain his lead in voting over the next two days to reach the quarterfinals.

His family hopes the potential ($25,000) prize will help them buy a forever home.

Hundreds of coats will be distributed by the Salvation Army on Pearl Street on November 1 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. to help local families stay warm, thanks to donations from Western Mass News viewers and a partnership with Greenfield Cooperative Bank — 94.7 WMAS.

Local residents joined No King's protests in Springfield last weekend, as the rally was part of a nationwide event where over 7+ million people demonstrated in one of the largest single-day protests in U.S. history.

On October 14, an MGM Springfield player won $15,733.52 on Dragon Link with a $2.50 wager, following jackpot wins on October 13 and October 12 on Monopoly Express, Buffalo Link, and Phoenix Link.

The recent payouts—over $11.8 million in September and growing wins earlier in the year—set a strong trend at the casino.

Jessica Sinopoli and her husband Jason have opened Graze Craze at 777 Riverdale St. in West Springfield—offering handcrafted charcuterie boards made with premium ingredients to enhance local celebrations and events.

The new business plans to partner with community groups and support local fundraisers.

Emer Dunne, a top-charting Irish folk singer, will perform her debut U.S. tour at the John Boyle O'Reilly Club in Springfield on Oct.

31—she will be joined by band members Eamonn Moran on guitar and Shane Meehan on fiddle to bring classic and modern Irish folk tunes to local fans.

STEM Week at Springfield Technical Community College is offering free science demonstrations and hands-on activities for students — covering microbiology, food science and more — to promote STEM education statewide.

Springfield Public Schools do not have a Pledge of Allegiance policy yet—preliminary discussions on Oct.

2 prompted School Committee members to consider a voluntary model similar to Brookline’s, and a further review will occur at the Legislative and Contracts subcommittee soon.

Springfield is holding four meetings to explain its new Community Choice Energy Aggregation Program that uses group buying to get lower energy rates from suppliers including those using green energy—residents on the Eversource Basic Service plan are automatically enrolled but can opt out by returning a reply card or signing up online. The meetings are arranged at Clodo Concepcion Community Center on Wednesday, Rebecca Johnson School on October 29, Raymond Jordan Senior Center on November 4 at 5:30 p.m., and Brightwood Branch Library on November 6, with most sessions beginning at 6 p.m.

Local allergist Dr. Jackie Garrett said a landmark study showed that feeding peanut products early helped reduce the risk of peanut allergies in infants.

Nearly 40,000 children avoided peanut allergies since 2015 and about eight percent still developed food allergies, so parents should consult their pediatrician for safe feeding practices.

The city will offer free flu, COVID-19 and RSV vaccines at five Springfield locations over the next two weeks through the Department of Health and Human Services and Big Y Pharmacy.

People must call each center to make an appointment and bring their health insurance card if available, with clinics held at Raymond Jordan Senior Center from noon to 4 p.m., Clodo Concepcion Greenleaf Community Center on Oct. 29 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Hungry Hill Senior Center on Nov. 3 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., North End Senior Center on Nov. 5 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and East Forest Park Branch Library on Nov. 6 from 1 to 4 p.m.

MVMA Fall Continuing Education Conference

Earn 12 hours of CE — 2 days — MGM Springfield — Entry Fee Required — Enhance your professional expertise at this informative veterinary conference.

Halloween Paint & Sip

2-4 p.m. — White Lion Brewing Company — Ticket required — Enjoy a fun Halloween-themed painting experience while sipping your favorite drink.

BCI’s Sensory-Friendly Trunk-or-Treat

9:30-10:30 p.m. — Springfield Learning Center — Free entry — Enjoy a spooktacular sensory-friendly trunk-or-treat experience for families.

John Caparulo Comedy Show

8-9:30 p.m. — MGM Springfield — Ticket prices vary — Enjoy sharp wit and hilarious anecdotes from seasoned comedian John Caparulo.

Comedy Night with John Caparulo

8-11 p.m. — MGM Springfield — Ticketed event — Experience sharp wit and dry humor from the seasoned comedian John Caparulo.

Massachusetts Equine Affaire

9 a.m.-7 p.m. (Thurs-Sat), 9 a.m.-5 p.m. (Sun) — Eastern States Exposition — Ticket prices vary — Experience four days of equine excitement, education, and entertainment with top trainers and breed showcases.

Laval Rocket vs. Springfield Thunderbirds

10:35 AM — MassMutual Center — Ticketed event — Experience the excitement of AHL hockey as the Thunderbirds host their rivals, the Laval Rocket.

A.J. Croce: Croce Plays Croce

8-11 p.m. — MGM Springfield — Tickets on sale now — Experience a night of unforgettable music and stories with A.J. Croce's latest tour.